Longarm 245: Longarm and the Vanishing Virgin Read Online Free Page A

him now.” He took a step forward.
    Both the guard and the butler shifted slightly, so that they completely blocked the door from Longarm. The friction between them was momentarily forgotten as they closed ranks against the man they regarded as a possible intruder.
    â€œMr. Long.” Canady’s voice boomed out in the entrance hall. “I’m glad you’re here. Come in, come in.”
    The butler and the guard moved aside instantly. Longarm stepped between them and into a high-ceilinged foyer. Canady was waiting there. He pumped Longarm’s hand and said, “Please, come into my study.” He glanced at the butler. “Jennings, bring us some brandy.”
    â€œOf course, sir,” murmured the butler. He closed the door, and the last glimpse Longarm got of O’Shaughnessy, the big guard was fading back into the shadows.
    Nora Canady must have had some sort of secret way out of the estate, to have gotten past a roughneck like that, Longarm thought.
    Even with a couple of fancy lamps lit, Canady’s study was a dark place. Probably had something to do with those shelves and shelves of heavy, leather-bound books, Longarm decided. He hung his hat on a gold-plated hat tree and sat down in the chair in front of a huge desk while Canady settled down behind it.
    â€œJonas isn’t here this evening,” Canady began quietly. “He’s left it to me to show you Nora’s room. All the reminders of her are rather ... painful ... for him.”
    â€œI reckon they must be for you too,” commented Longarm.
    Canady leaned forward and laced his fingers together on the desktop. “Yes, that’s certainly true. But Jonas is afraid that some harm has befallen Nora, even though she seems to have left here voluntarily, while I ... I steadfastly refuse to believe that such a thing is possible. I know that she is all right, and that you will bring her home safely, Marshal Long.”
    The study door opened behind Longarm as Canady spoke, and the big lawman looked back to see the butler, Jennings, entering the room carrying a silver tray with a decanter and two snifters on it. He set the tray on the desk and began to pour the brandy.
    â€œYou can speak freely in front of Jennings, Marshal,” Canady went on. “He knows about Nora’s disappearance, of course. We couldn’t very well keep it from all the servants.”
    â€œAnd I appreciate your trust, Mr. Canady,” Jennings said smoothly.
    â€œHell, yes, I trust you,” said Canady. To Longarm, he continued, “Jennings was a freedman working on the railroad with me back in Virginia. We’ve been together ever since.”
    â€œWhat about O’Shaunnessy?” asked Longarm.
    â€œA gandy dancer while the Union Pacific was being built. I hired him to be in charge of my guards several years ago.”
    â€œDoes he know about your daughter?”
    Canady nodded. “But the other guards don’t.”
    Longarm took the snifter of brandy Jennings handed him. Canady lifted his glass and said, “To the success of your mission.”
    Longarm nodded and drank. The brandy was like liquid fire as it slid down his throat and into his belly. He couldn’t help but let out a sigh of satisfaction.
    â€œYes, it is good, isn’t it?” Canady’s smile was bittersweet. “Money can purchase the finest liquor in the world ... but sometimes it can’t bring back the things that are most precious to us.”
    Longarm knew the man was talking about his daughter. He took another sip of the brandy, then set the snifter back on the tray. “I need to see Miss Nora’s room.”
    â€œOf course.” Canady set his glass aside and stood up. “I’ll take you up myself.”
    He led the way to a magnificent staircase that curved up from the entrance hall to the second floor. Longarm had been in fancy mansions like this before, but they always made him a little nervous.